Cerebrovascular aging– A systematic review.

Dr. Srinivasan  Prathiba; Dr. Karthik  Shunmugavelu

doi:10.51168/sjhrafrica.v4i3.2625

Authors

Dr. Srinivasan Prathiba Associate professor Department of Physiology PSP medical college hospital and research institute
Dr. Karthik Shunmugavelu Assistant Professor, Department of Dentistry, PSP Medical College Hospital and Research Institute, Tambaram, Kanchipuram main road, Oragadam Panruti, Kanchipuram district Tamilnadu 631604 India.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51168/sjhrafrica.v4i3.2625

Keywords:

Aged, Brain blood flow, cerebrovascular health, cerebrovascular reactivity, cognitive aging, neurovascular coupling

Abstract

Background
Cerebrovascular aging contributes significantly to cognitive decline, vascular dysfunction, and neurodegenerative disorders in older adults. Structural and functional alterations in cerebral vasculature influence cerebral perfusion, neurovascular coupling, and blood-brain barrier integrity.

Objective: To systematically evaluate recent literature concerning mechanisms, vascular alterations, and clinical implications associated with cerebrovascular aging.

Methodology

Electronic databases, including PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, and Lilacs, were searched for studies published between 2020 and 2024. Original scientific studies addressing cerebrovascular aging, cerebral blood flow, vascular reactivity, neurovascular coupling, or cognitive aging were included. Irrelevant studies, duplicate records, and non-specific literature were excluded. Included studies evaluated aging-related cerebrovascular changes in human and experimental models. No therapeutic intervention was specifically assessed.
Study selection followed PRISMA guidelines. Methodological quality assessment was performed using the STROBE checklist. Extracted data included author, publication year, study design, country, and major outcomes.

Results
Six studies published between 2020 and 2024 fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Evidence demonstrated age-associated alterations in vascular density, arterial stiffness, cerebrovascular reactivity, endothelial dysfunction, blood-brain barrier permeability, and neuroinflammatory pathways. These vascular changes were consistently associated with impaired cognition and increased susceptibility to neurodegenerative disorders.

Conclusions and implications of key findings
Cerebrovascular aging is strongly associated with vascular dysfunction and cognitive decline. Early identification of vascular alterations may improve preventive strategies targeting age-related neurodegenerative disease progression.

Author Biographies

Dr. Srinivasan Prathiba, Associate professor Department of Physiology PSP medical college hospital and research institute

is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physiology at PSP Medical College Hospital and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu, India. Her academic interests include vascular physiology, aging research, neurophysiology, and systemic pathophysiology associated with age-related disorders.

Dr. Karthik Shunmugavelu, Assistant Professor, Department of Dentistry, PSP Medical College Hospital and Research Institute, Tambaram, Kanchipuram main road, Oragadam Panruti, Kanchipuram district Tamilnadu 631604 India.

is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Dentistry at PSP Medical College Hospital and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu, India. His academic and research interests include oral pathology, systemic diseases affecting oral health, translational medicine, vascular biology, and interdisciplinary medical research.

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